Chip Kelly has the respect of former Oregon players, and other Super Bowl media day notes

When Seahawks center Max Unger was asked a question about Seattle's gameplan, he gave a simple answer. "We have to score points." If that strategy sounds familiar, it should. It's the same thing Chip Kelly communicated to Riley Cooper when Cooper asked him "what the plan" was during a game this season.

Chip Kelly has the respect of former Oregon players, and other Super Bowl media day notes

Jimmy Kempski

Posted:
Tuesday, January 28, 2014, 6:48 PM

When Seahawks center Max Unger was asked a question about Seattle's gameplan, he gave a simple answer. "We have to score points." If that strategy sounds familiar, it should. It's the same thing Chip Kelly communicated to Riley Cooper when Cooper asked him "what the plan" was during a game this season.

Unger played under Kelly at Oregon for two seasons before he entered the pros. In a similar way that Kelly's arrival to the pros was met with skepticism, so was his arrival at Oregon.

"Chip was the offensive coordinator when I was there," said Unger. "In the 2007 season we hired him from New Hampshire, and everyone was like, 'Hey we just hired the offensive coordinator from New Hampshire,' and everyone was like, 'Who is this guy?'

"But he came in, and everyone was really impressed by his coaching. He's a smart football guy. He's an excellent coach, and hopefully we don't have to play him."

Unger said he watched quite a bit of 'crossover film' of the Eagles, meaning that he saw the Eagles playing other teams he was preparing for.

"(Kelly) did a great job (this year) of changing up their offense and fitting their personnel," said Unger.

Seahawks CB Walter Thurmond also played for Oregon during Kelly's first season as head coach. Thurmond singled out Kelly's practices as something that helped him prepare for the NFL. "The transition was seamless," said Thurmond.

"Our practice style was a lot like (Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll's). I think it's a great way to conduct practices, having competition, and you see the success that Chip had had at Oregon, then making the playoffs in his first year in the NFL, and having that great offense (in Philly). He's a great person, a great man, and I have a lot of respect for him."

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Former Eagle Winston Justice is a backup OT for the Broncos. He spoke about his relationship with former offensive line coach Howard Mudd. Justice thought that Mudd's system was a good fit for his skill set. "Juan Castillo was my first coach," said Justice. "He was a big vertical setter, and I didn't (know any other way) than vertical setting. Howard Mudd is the total opposite. He's a jump setter, which I think I'm made for, and he taught me that whole technique."

However, Justice and Mudd didn't get along. "Our personalities really clashed. During the time (we were together in Philly), we hated each other, but he really helped me out a lot. He made me a better player even though we didn't get along."

Justice said Todd Herremans called him to congratulate him for making the Super Bowl.

When asked about it at media day, I can't decide if Bennett backtracked or not:

"They're a good defense, one of the top 15 in the league. It was just a cold day out there."

Bennett also described his sack dance. He said it's "Two angels dancing on a crisp Sunday morning with hot chocolate flowing from the heavens." I assume this is it:

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Two years ago, in garbage time in a blowout win over the Eagles, Seahawks OT Russell Okung was flipped by a frustrated Trent Cole after the play.

Okung tore his pectoral muscle on the play, and was done for the season. "I was finishing my block, and was kind of taken out of football," said Okung. "But it's alright. Those things happen.

"It was an adverse situation, and for me, built a lot of character."

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I asked Seahawks punter Jon Ryan if Donnie Jones was the MVP of the Universe, or just of the NFL.

Ryan only said that, "Donnie Jones is a great punter." Don't you dare patronize me and #DonnieFootball, Ryan.

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This morning on WFAN on the Boomer and Carton show in New York, Boomer Esiason was discussing trash talking. Esiason said the worst instance of trash talking he ever heard came from former Eagles safety Andre Waters, who was harassing Bengals RB Stanley Wilson for his drug problems. Wilson was twice suspended from the NFL for a full year for use of cocaine.

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